Tuesday, December 25, 2007

The ‘Malaysian Indian Dilemma’ is a book about the Malaysian Indian community, focusing on its economic, educational, social and political status, in the past and present. The book that is to be launched soon, is authored by Mr. Janakey Raman Manickam, a social activist and freelance writer. Tun Dr. Mahathir wrote the book ‘The Malay Dilemma’ in 1970. A prominent Malaysian born Australian businessman, Mr. Ye Lin Sheng, wrote ‘The Chinese Dilemma’ in 2003. Now Mr. Janakey Raman has taken upon himself to expose the dilemma faced by the Malaysian Indian community. He has written this book based on extensive research and his very own personal experiences working as an estate worker for 15 years.

‘The Malaysian Indian Dilemma’ is an insight into the socio-economic status of the Indian community. Even though the country attained independence 50 years ago, Malaysian Indians who constitute 7.6% of the total population are still lagging behind other communities in terms of socio-economic development. It highlights the fact that though Indians have contributed immensely towards economic development and nation building, they have been categorically neglected and even denied of their rights as Malaysian citizens. Estate workers continue to toil hard in order to make ends meet and poverty is not uncommon among the urban Indians. However, people in power have not given due attention to the plights of the Indians. The book has detailed accounts, supported with relevant data, of the causes of socio-economic problems faced by Malaysian Indians and its negative effects of on the community.

The author also discusses in detail the views of the Malaysian Indian community on the social, economic, educational and political issues. The book is divided into 8 chapters spanning 480 pages and contains pictures and valuable information about the pre-independence struggles of the Malaysian Indian, post independence status of the Malaysian Indian community, vis-à-vis the New Economic Policy, the New Development Policy, Vision 2020 and the future challenges faced by Malaysian Indians.

Having covered the past and present, the author concludes the book by leaving it to the readers to decide what is to be the future of Malaysian Indians. A must read book by every Malaysian Indian.!!! If you interested to buy, please contact the author Mr. Janakey Raman ( Hand phone no.: +06 013-3927727).

Monday, December 17, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR: A third crash has occurred at the Jalan Istana-Jalan Sungai Besi junction within a week and this time, a 24-year-old company executive was killed.

In the 3pm incident yesterday, S. Vikneswaran died on the way to hospital when the Proton Iswara car he was driving plunged down a flyover after hitting a guardrail.

Police said the victim, a Scomi Group Bhd programme development executive, was driving alone and on his way to his parents’ home in Seremban when he was believed to have lost control of the car on the wet road.

On Sunday, businessman Zuhairi Kamaruddin injured his hands after his car rammed a guardrail at the same location. Two days later, a man broke his arm after his car plunged down the same flyover. – Bernama

Source: www.thestar.com.my pubished on Saturday December 15, 2007

Victor@Vikneswaran was former student of Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS. He just graduated last August and was working in Scomi Group Bhd. May his soul rest in peace..

Thursday, December 13, 2007

PETALING JAYA: Five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders have been arrested and detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

The five are P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, R. Kenghadharan, V. Ganabatirau and T. Vasanthakumar. They were picked up at various locations in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Seremban.

It is learnt they were detained under Section 8 (1) of the ISA after Internal Security Minister Datuk Seri Abdulah Ahmad Badawi signed their detention order.

Their detention is for two years.

Uthayakumar and two others namely Ganabatirau and P. Waythamoorthy were charged under the Sedition Act on Nov 23 in Klang 23 for allegedly making speeches to incite hatred at a gathering in Batang Berjuntai, Selangor, on Nov 16. Waythamoorthy is currently overseas.

Under Section 73 (1) of the ISA, the police can detain any individual for up to 60 days without a warrant, trial and without access to legal counsel if he was suspected to have “acted or is about to act or is likely to act in any manner prejudicial to the security of Malaysia or any part thereof or to maintenance of essential services therein or to the economic life thereof."

After 60 days, the Minister of Home Affairs can extend the period of detention without trial for up to two years, without submitting any evidence for review by the courts, by issuing a detention order, which is renewable indefinitely.

The five detained

1) P. Uthayakumar

The 46-year-old lawyer was called to the Malaysian Bar on Jan 23, 1993. He is the legal advisor to the Police Watch and Human Rights Committee and advisor to the Malaysian People's Reform Party (Parti Reformasi Insan Malaysia or PRIM). He had been a secretary of the MIC Club in London and has appeared in a number of cases related to police abuse, deaths in police custody, police shootings and police inaction. He had also taken part in the reformasi campaigns in support of sacked Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

2) M. Manoharan

The 46-year-old Manoharan has been a lawyer for 15 years and was a legal assistant to Karpal Singh for 10 years before branching out on his own. He has been in the DAP and had contested in a parliamentary seat in Federal Territory and was also the Selangor DAP chairman for a short term.

3) V. Ganabatirau

Advisor to the DAP's Sri Muda branch in Shah Alam.

4) R. Kenghadharan

He is a lawyer and was one of the counsels for Uthayakumar when the latter was charged in court for publishing a seditious letter in a website.

5) T. Vasanthakumar

The former bank officer resigned about a month ago after his employers asked about his involvement with Hindraf. He is in his 30s and single. He is now a full-time Hindraf activist and its organising secretary.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Cell-phone etiquette is really just common courtesy. Most people today have a mobile phone. In fact, many people can't imagine how they ever got along without a portable phone. However, many people also complain about cell phone users. People complain about other people loudly discussing personal matters in public places.They complain when cell phones ring in movie theaters and concert halls. They complain about people driving too slowly, and not paying attention to where they are going because they are talking on a cell phone. And they complain about people walking around talking to people who aren't there. (Ghosts??)

Whenever a new communications technology becomes popular,it changes the way society is organized. Society has to invent rules for the polite way to use the new devices. Our social etiquette, our rules of politeness for cell phones, is still evolving. Cell-phone etiquette apply to most public places. Always try to keep your phone ringer as low as possible or put your mobile phone on vibrate, so it does not distract the people around you. A good time to leave your phone at home, or at least in the car, would be at a funeral, wedding or some event along those lines.

Basic Cell phone etiquette rules include (suggested):

Switching it Off : Know when to turn it off or vibrate it. Eg meetings, movies, worship, seminars, etc . Vibrate mode when in places where you can take a call, but don't want to disturb others.

Be Brief : When you get a call and you're with friends, keep the call short.

Permission : Often, it is correct etiquette to inform others at the beginning of the meeting that you are expecting an important call and get their permission.

Be Polite : Don't scream : speak in a lower-than-normal voice, you will be heard by the caller, and not others in the room.

Don't Distract : Avoid talking where you may be distracting to others.

Driving : It is not only very dangerous, but also unlawful in most countries to drive & talk on your cell Phone.